ANDREW HOLNESS Big Disgrace This Today Parliament Exp0se

Added: 2026-05-24

[00:00:00]The SPARK program never sparks.

[00:00:03]Says a rural MP. That is what we're going to talk about. Everybody, welcome, welcome, welcome to Virtual TV Blog. And we're going to talk about consistency, everybody. I know we always talk about consistency, but for real, I have been consistent. You understand? So, welcome, welcome one more time. All right?

[00:00:20]So, before we move forward, everybody, 100 people like this video.

[00:00:26]And of course, today is Guidance Saturdays.

[00:00:29]Okay? Now, the opposition criticizes the government's SPARK program and says that the SPARK program never sparks. Now, listen me. I can say this.

[00:00:40]The SPARK program, for me, um especially the community roads, which, you know, what we call it scheme road there. Let us call it the scheme road. I have seen cases where um many people in their communities get half a road.

[00:01:00]One line, one stretch of smooth road, and by the time you bend the corner, bad road.

[00:01:07]You bend the corner, smooth road, by the neighbor the neighbor turn, bad road.

[00:01:12]It doesn't make no sense.

[00:01:14]I have even seen where cases as half a football field, half, literally half, half height bar of green or whatever you want call it to make it look smooth and pretty, and the next half, that is all badly it was done. Carried out very poorly.

[00:01:33]You understand me? So, really and truly, the SPARK program and the rural MP saying the SPARK program never sparks, I don't have nothing negative to say about it, because guess what? They're somewhat telling the truth.

[00:01:48]>> [snorts] >> You understand me? Okay? So, today is Guidance Saturdays, everybody. Welcome, welcome to Virtual TV Blog. We will now talk about the SPARK program and why MPs are now scrutinizing the SPARK program, everybody? Including my area as well.

[00:02:00]You understand me? I've seen where half a road and one stretch one stretch of road looks smooth and then the next stretch look mash up.

[00:02:09]Like literally. No no no.

[00:02:11]You understand me? So, if you are going to do the thing, you do the thing properly.

[00:02:19]Yes, so do the thing properly.

[00:02:21]You understand me? So, Virtual TV wish you guidance in all your endeavors for the rest of the day, everybody. And welcome to Virtual TV once again. I've been very consistent in posting on this channel. Now, videos are posted over Virtual TV blogs. You know you can go over there and go check out that after we finish watching this video. You understand me? And let us get into the meat of the matter where that is concerned. Okay?

[00:02:47]Now, major backlash now comes from the government and the SPARK program, which they said would have revolutionized the roads in Jamaica. That never quite happened. But anyway, let us begin now where I I and see what they're saying about this SPARK program here so. Now, anyway, let us continue. Several opposition members of the of Parliament MPs from rural constituencies says delays in the implementation of the government's 45 billion dollar SPARK, which is sheer prosperity through accelerated improvement to our roads network program, are making it harder to respond to claims from residents. Now, according to what is being said, everybody, speaking at the People's National Party press conference in Kingston on Tuesday, the MPs stress that the support the road rehabilitation initiative um stress that they support the road rehabilitation initiative but are concerned about long delays, slow progress, and poor communications surrounding the project. Now, I agree [clears throat] 100%. Tell you what, by the time if they're going to finish the rest of the roads as I just explained to you that you will have one good stretch of road and then the other part of road look mash up. If by the time them begin to the mash up part of the road, the smooth part where them just make I'm going to mash up, too.

[00:04:25]Two of them the people I take. No.

[00:04:29]St. James Southern MP Mika Burton said information presented at the Public Administration and Appropriations Committee, which is the PAAC, suggested that several roads in opposition-held constituencies may not qualify for repairs under the program's sections criteria.

[00:04:52]No, according to Burton, the National Works Agency prioritizes roads linked to important buildings, roads connecting constituencies, and high-traffic corridors. Those are what qualifies your road to be fixed, right? Now, what that means is that the in constituencies that are remote, such as Salt Spring, South East James, Central St. Mary, Central Westmoreland, and Western Hanover roads will not likely get on the SPARK program because they do not meet the criteria that SPARK has set out for the second phase of its program.

[00:05:40]Why? Why? Why? I don't like all these old talk.

[00:05:45]This not sound good.

[00:05:48]I don't like all these songs not one bit, but tell you what.

[00:05:55]This situation now tells you how serious it has become.

[00:06:00]Right? Well, let us move on.

[00:06:02]See, no.

[00:06:06]To say, "Listen, Bert Chill rather um rejecting claims that the opposition is deciding the program unfairly insisting that parting wants Spark succeed. Now, to say the opposition is pouring cold water on Spark is saying too much because a spark never sparked to begin with. The opposition wants Spark to work. We have to be sitting with the constituents and saying, "Please, don't block the roads because we want the program to work." Continue Bert Chill. So, she's saying that if the government people them must say, "Why would not criticize the Spark program so harshly?" Because you know what they feel they're saying, "No." Because they have to go to their um their community members and explain to them that this is what is happening and beg them to not the road. When you know the why they might put up so much pressure upon the government and the Spark program is for the mounting pressure that they are receiving from their members of Parliament members of of the community as well. You understand me? So, it is a chain reaction.

[00:07:18]So, what Nikki is and Bert Chill is saying that their people and their roads in their part of the communities are constituencies that are in deplorable condition and they might mount pressure upon she and you know Jamaica people get to work already. And this we vote for.

[00:07:32]This that way way way. So, she know how to mount pressure upon the government because they're the ones responsible for rolling out the Spark program. So, she's saying that this is not all straight to tell you that we don't want the program to work, but we don't need for do better because this is what is happening. I have to be begging the people based on the information that you tell me to go back to my constituents that this is what is happening. And when they see nothing happening, then them chuck it for block the road.

[00:08:03]Anyway, let us continue. She says the opposition wants the government to be fair, realistic, and flexible where the need arises. Spark means an injection. And if that does not come soon, then I do not know how long we can keep the people from blocking the roads. She says St. James Western Hanover Western MP, Heather Miller, Heather Miller-Bennett also criticized the poor communication from contractors saying that work frequently starts and stops without explanation. She noted that equipment has sometimes been removed from project sites without residents or representatives being informed. The difficulty that we're having is that the contractor start and then stop, and you don't know when they're coming back. She says adding the neighboring Hanover Eastern has experienced similar problems. St. Mary Central MP Omar Newell says poor coordination regarding damaged water pipes contribute to more than 15 months of delays on some roads in his constituency. He explained that the contractors were instructed to begin work on the roads believed not to require repair only to discover existing leaks after works has No, the this resulted in repeated stoppages while materials were sourced locally or imported, he says. Meanwhile, Westmoreland Central MP Dwayne Vaz claimed that some roads were selected before proper estimates were contemplated while Southeast Central MP Kenneth Russell said 80% of the roads in his constituency require repair and the residents have been given several separate start dates without beginning.

[00:10:15]We have more info coming. 100 people have been able to go over it so far.